Bottle-filling machine.



J. E. HENES.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.' ArfPucATloN FILED Ammo. 190s. RENEyvEn MAR. 6, 1914.

151566,52@ L A Patented im.. 4, 1916.

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L E. HENES.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLlcATIoN FILED Aue. lo. 190s. RENEwEp MAR. 6,1914.

1,166,520. A PatentedJan.4,1916

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.Znfveno'u ITM PJM UNITED :STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

J'oHN E. HENES, or NENOMINEE, MICHIGAN', AssIGNon rro HENEs eKELLEn COMPANY, orizrnNoMINEE,v iscrIcH-IGAN,v A corAn'rNnasmrcoMrosED or JOHN HENEs, ALFRED A. HENEs, AND JOHN E.' HENEs.

BOTTLE-ranma MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

Application led August 10,. 1.908, Serial No. 447,669. Renewed March 6, 1914. Serial No. 822,957.' v

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN E. HENES, a

l citizen of the United States, residing vat AMenominee, in the county of Menominee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle- Filling Machines,.of which the'following is a specicatiom'reference being had to the accompanying dravging, forming a part.

eration of such' machines more automatic,

and generally to simplify and improve their construction and operation.l

It consists in `certain novel features of construction and inthe peculiar arrangement and combinations of parts as hereinafter particularly described and delined in- Ythe claims.

In the accompanying drawing like charactersdesignate the same parts in the several figures.

- lFigure l is a side elevation and partial vertical. section on the line 1 1, Fig'. 2, of a'machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a partial plan view and horizontal section on the broken line 2 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a de- 'tail view showing on an enlarged scale as viewed from the left with relation to Fig. 2, the'. trips and armsfo-r operatin the valves whichv control the operation o the bottle supports; Fig. 4; is an elevation as viewed from the riglitwith relation to- Fi 2, of theinner end of the turnout conduit or removing filled bottlesfrom the machine,l and of '10 are removed; Fig. 5 is a central vertical secand-Figi 6 is a' similar viewl of a modiiication.

Referring more particularly to Figs.v 1

and 2, a is a stand or support having a 'tubular post or upright b, and c is a closed receptacle preferablyjof cylindrical form, for containing and distributing the liquid to be bottled. .lt is provided with a removypressure inside and outside of thev ioat.

the guard for-,holding the centering guides out of operative position as the filled bottles substantially constant level. tion on an enlarged scale of a lling head; 1

able top plate or cover d, and on the under .side with a central tubular stem e ittedto turn. in bearings at the upper and lowerends of the post b through which it extends. Between the closed step bearing f in which it is suitably packed at' its lower end to prevent leakage, and the lowerend of the post b, it is provided with a= worm gear g.

A liquid supply pipe Zz. leads upwardly 'from' the step bearing in which it is suitably packed, through the stem c into. the lower -part of the receptacle c, and a gas supply pipe z' leads upwardly from the stepibearlng through the pipe L' into the upper part of the receptacle c. At'it lower end the tubular stem .e communicates with a Huid pressure supply connection j, the pipe h with a liquid supply connection 7c, and' the pipe with a gas supply connection Z.

lmj is ahollow closed flo-at having a central vertical sleeve n loosely guided on the pipe i within the receptacle c and an upwardlyl projecting vent tube 0, to equalize the gas A valve p controlling the admission of gas from the upper end of pipe 'i into the receptacle c, and a valve g controlling the escape of gas from said receptacle into the atmosphere, are arranged to be opened by the' vertical movement of the float m, the valve q being operated by a lever 7' extending at. one end between anges on the upper end of the sleeve n., and the valve 20 by the engagement of the upper flange with its de-l pending stem. The upward movement of the float. beyond a certain limit, opens the valve 79, while itsdownward movement to a certain position, permitting the' valve p to close, opens the waste orvlent valve g. In this way liquid is automaticay maintained under gas pressure at a pred termined and suo When there is no liquid. in receptacle c, i

the float will obviously sink and hold the waste valve gopen. Under these conditions,` to establish the requisite gas pressure in receptacle c for starting and operating the machine, av push f rod s, passing through a ing the admission valve p untilthe required pressure is established in the receptacle preparatory to the admission of liquid thereto.

The receptacle c is provided with a numy,ber of filling heads arranged around its peouter end with a removable cap or closure u.-

This head or tube when attached to the receptacle as shown, projects horizontally and radially therefrom, and is in open communication at its inner end with the interior of the receptacle.

Ina fitting e, which is guided and vertif,

cally movable in the head or tube t, is threaded or otherwise secured, tubes 'w and forming the longer and shorter legs of a siphon. The fitting v has a tubular extension y passing through a stuiiing box in the under side of the head or tube s and surrounding the upper part of the tube w, and an upwardly extending stein .e guided in a tubular extension 2 on the upper side of the head Aor tube t. The extension 2 is closed at its upper end by a cap 3, and between this cap and the stem z is interposed a spring 4, which tends to move the siphon downward and holds it in its lower position. The it ting is provided with an upwardly opening valve 5, which normally closes a passage 6 leading from the interior of the head or tube t into the annular passage between the tube lw and extension o. A lever 7 fulcrumed in the fitting?) and engaging at one end with said valve, isadaptedto open the same when the siphon is moved upward and the opposite end of the lever -is carried thereby into engagement with the top of the head or tube t.

Fixed on the tubular extension y lis a recessed cap 8, in which a ring 9 of rubber is inserted for sealing the mouths of bottles pressed against it. A vent passage which is normally closed by a valve 10 leads from the annular space or passage around the tube lw to the atmosphere, to relieve'the bottle of internal pressureand permit the filling of the Siphon when the machine is started.- v

At its inner end the tube m is provided with anvupwardly closing valve 11, adapted when the'siphonI descends to be closed and held against its seat by the engagement withthe bottom ofthe receptacle 0 of a sleeve 12,

which telescopes inthe valve chamber and in which the valve stem is guided, a light spring being interposed between said sleeve and valve, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Thev valve 11 with its case` moving. downward relativelyto the sleeve 12 compresses said spring when the tube is-lowered to its normal position. When saidtube is-lifted, as

shown at the right in Fig. 1,' said sleeve, re-

incasso maining in Contact with the bottom of receptacle awhile the valve and its case move upwardly, maintains a connection for the outflow of liquid close to the bottom of said receptacle, and the spring is relieved of tension, permitting the valve to open at the proper time, as hereinafter explained.

Below and in line with the 'Siphon tubes fw, cylinders 13 are carried by a wheel or support 14, fixed on the tubular stem e so as to turn with the receptacle c. 'llhese cyl inders are provided with pistons l5, and to the upper ends of the piston rods are attached the vertically movable bottle supports 16. rThese supports' are provided on their-.inner and advancing sides with upwardly projecting vflanges to facilitate locating the bottles and .to hold them in place thereon.

An oscillatory or rocking valve 17, fitted in the lower head of each cylinder, controls the admission and release of fluid under pressure to and from the cylinder, the valve at the right in Fig. l being shown in position to admit pressure to the cylinder, and the valve at the left being shown in position to release pressure from the cylinder. These valves are arranged radially with relation to the axis around which the cylinders turn,

'and the inwardly projecting stem o'f each valve lis provided with two arms 1,8 and 19,

.Compressed air orother fluid under pressure for operating the^pistons 15 and bottle supports 16, is conveyed from the tubular stem e through radial pipes 23 to an annular pipe 24, and thence by branches 25 to ythe chamberspf the several valves 17.

\ 0n one side of the machine between the.

ltrips 20 and 21, a turnout -conduit or discharge chute 26 has curved guides 27at`its inner end, constructed and arrangedito receive and divert filled bottles from the supf ports 16 as they pass in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. 2 betweensaid guides.v

'.llo direct the mouths of the bottles as they are lifted on the supports 16 over the ends of the tubes lw, conical centeringfguides 28 are provided. These guides are attached to the outer.- ends of radial arms which are.

pivoted 'at ltheir inn'er ends to a ring or frame 29, carried by the rotary kreceptacle c, so as 'to be turned downwardly into operative position, as indicated by the dotted lines at the left in Fig. 1, and lupwardly in swinging into and out of place, and are stopped and held in their operative relation to the filling tubes and bottle supports by thev engagement of projections 30 at ,the

inner ends'. of their supporting arms with the ring or frame29.

lAguard v31 attached to the inner "guide 27 of the turnout conduit, and -curved or inclined downwardlyat its ends as shown 1n Fig. 4, is arranged to turn the centering guides 28 upwardly out of operative position, as shown in Fig. 1, just before the bottle supports 16Mare lowered and as they pass the lturnoutconduit 26. i

The receptacle c with its filling heads and the bottle carrier are turnedby a worm 32 on the driving shaft 33.

' Thesiphons of the fillingheads instead of passing through stuiing boxes in the lower v sides f the heads or tubes t, as shown in Fig.- 5, may be connected therewith 'by .exible diaphragms 34, as shown in Fig. 6, and

the springs L'maybe dispensed with.

' The machine operates as .follows:. The

beer or other beverage to be bottled,beingV admitted-into the receptacle c through thev supply connection. c and pipe by. against counter fpressure previously established 4therein'and maintained bythe admission of air or other gas -under pressure through the supply connection Z and pipe z', empty bottles are placedv on the supports-16 as they passv `between the turnout conduit 26 and the trip 21. The filling heads and bottle supports"v beingturned together with the receptacle c, when the downwardly projecting arms 19 on the stems of the valves 17 pass the trip roller'; 21, they turn the Valves into the position shownlat the right in. Fig, 1.

compressed' air or ,othery fluid v"under pressure is vrthus admitted intol theU lower ends of the cylinders 13, the exhaust-'ports' being closed,-

.rying jthe 4bottles on the supports 16 upwardly through the centering guides28 over the'tube's fw. The 'mouths of the bottles be- .ingthus vforced against` the rubber rings 9 in the caps 8, are closed and `sealed while the siphons are moved upward withl relation to the heads or tubes t. This upward movement of the siphons lifts .the vstems of the valves 11 away from the bottom of receptacle c, 'releases-the tension vof the' springs between said'A valve'sjand the sleeves 12, and

'causes the levers 7 to vopen, the lvalves'.

The

lifted are Iirst filled and rendered operative by temporarily opening the vent valves 10,

thus reducing the counter `pressure in the bottles and permitting the greater pressure in receptacle e to. force vthe liquid into the siphons, the valves 11 beingreleased andy opened when the siphons are lifted, as hereinafter explained, and remaining open until the siphons-are lowered into normal position.Y After they 'have once been filled inl this way, they will remainilled while themachine continues in operation, the valves 10 being closed.` l

Falling by gravity through the siphons into the bottles against the counter pressure of air or .gas produced and maintained therein, carbonated or efervescing beverages will not foam, and the gas with which they are carbonated willl not be liberated and thus cause them to become fiat or stale.

After the liquid in the bottles attains the' level 'of the liquid in receptacle c, and the bottles are filled, the upturned arms 18being brought into engagement with the .triproller 20, turnithe' valves 17 -into' the position shown at the leftin Fig. 1, shutting.

off thefluid pressure supply through the branch pipes 25 and openingY the exhaust A ports in the lower ends of the cylinders 13.

The pistons `15 with the filled bottles -carried by the supports 16, are thus allowed to descend b y gravity and as they descend, the.

Valves, 11 are'closed by the compression ofl the springs between them andthe sleeves 12. Before and during the descent of the filled bottles, the arms ofthe centering guides 28 ride upon the guard 31 and are turned and held back out of contact with the bottles so that'they cannotcatch on the shoulders on the bottles. and thus interfere with the proper operation of themachine, break bottles or injure the machine.

' As the filled bottles vpass. between the curved guides 27 they are directed thereby outwardly from the supports 16 into the conduit 26. As the supports 16 pass from the conduit 26 the arms of the centering guides 28 clear the .guard 31, permitting them to 'descend into\operative position with relation to-the tubes fw, as indicated by dotted lines at the left in Fig. 1.

Theliquid in receptacle c is maintained at the desired level automatically by the operation of the ioat m, which regulates the gas pressure.

`without materially affecting theprinciple and mode of operation ofthe machine, and

loq

observed that the operation of rat without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: 1. In a bottle filling machine, the combination With a stand or support, of a closed liquid receptacle rotatably mounted thereon and having a number of filling siphons,

liquid and Vgas supply connections and a 'gas waste passage, a valve controlling said waste passage, a 'vertically movable float adapted to operate said valve, and means accessible Y outside of said receptacle for lifting said land having a number of filling siphons,a

Y liquid supply connection and gas supply and waste connections, valves controlling said gas supply and'waste connections, a vertically movable float adapted to operate said valves, and -means for manually lifting said yfloat to operate said valves in starting the machine, substantially as described.

3. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a stand lor support, of aclosed liquid receptacle rotatably mounted thereon and having a number of tubular heads and vertically movable. filling siphons having their longer legs guided and movable length` wise 1n ner ends with automatic valves adapted to close when the siphons descend to their lower positions, and to remain closed when the siphons are elevated until a certain counterpressure is established in the bottle to -be illed, substantially as described.

4. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a stand or support, of a closed liquid receptacle rotatably mounted-thereon and having a number of tubular heads, and vertically movable filling siphons guided in said heads parallel with theaxis ofsaid receptacle and each provided with a bottle ,sealingl cap and a gas passage extending from the interior of the head through said cap andwith a'valve controlling said passage and adapted to be opened bythe upward movement of the siphon, substantially as described.

5. In a bo-ttlefilling machine, the combination with a sta-nd or support, of a closed liquid receptacle rotatably mounted thereon movable siphons guided in said heads parallel with the axis of said receptacle and each provided with a bottle sealing cap, and a gas passagel leading through said cap from the'interior of the head and provided with a valve adapted to be opened by the upward movement of the siphons, and automatic valves' adapted to close the inner ends of the siphons 'when' they are lowered, and -to remain closed when the siphons are elevated said heads and provided at their invertically y nieeao until a certain counterpressure is established in the bottles to be filled, substantially as described. x

6. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with ast and or support, of a closed liquid receptacle rotatably mounted thereon and having a number of tubular filling heads, siphons guided in said heads parallel `with vthe axis of said receptacle and proand having' radiallyl projecting tubular` 'heads communicating withthe interior of thereceptacle'and provided at their outer ends with removable closures, vertically movable siphons guided in said heads parallel with the axis of said receptacle independently of said closures and provided with bottle sealing caps and gas passages leading from the interiorv of the heads through said caps, automatic valves adapted vto close the siphons at their inner ends when they are lowered and to remain closed when the siphons are elevated until a certain counterpressure is established in the bottles to be filled, and valves controlling said gas passages and adapted to be opened by the upward movement of the siphons, substantially as described.

8. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a closed liquid receptacle having -a tubular head extending horizontally therefrom, means for maintaining liquid under pressure at a substantially constant level in said receptacle, a vertically movable Siphon having its 'longer vertical leg guidedand movable lengthwise in said head and pro-v .vided with a bottle sealing cap and its -shorter leg extending into said receptacle and provided with an automatic valve which is adapted to close when the'siphon is moved to its lower position and to remain closed V when the Siphon is elevated until a certain counterpressure is established in the bottle to be filled, the siphon having a gas passage leading from the interiory of said head through said cap and a valve controlling said passage and adapted to be opened when the siphon is moved to its upper position, substantially as described. Y

9. In a bottle filling machine, the combination lof a closed receptacle having a tubular head extending horizontally therefrom, means .for maintaining liquid under pressure at a substantially constant level in said receptacle, a vertically movable Siphon havlng its longer leg l,guided and movable ,E lengthwise in said head-and having a bottle 10. n a bottle filling machine, the combination of a closed-liquid receptacle, means for maintaining "liquid under pressure at a substantially -constant level therein, a vertically movable- Siphon having its longer leg guided and movablel lengthwise in said receptacle and provided on its longer leg outside of the receptacle with a vbottle sealing cap and having liquid and gas passages extending through saidycap, the gas passage terminating below and adjacent to the cap,

and automatic valves controlling said pas-l sages, the valve controlling the liquid passage being closed by the downward movement of the'y Siphon and remaining closed when it'is moved upward until a certain counterpressure is established in the bottle and the valve controlling the gas passage being opened by the upward 'movement of the siphon, substantially as described.

11. In a bottle villingmachine, the combinationof a closed receptacle, means for maintaining liquid under pressure at a substantiallyv constant level in said receptacle,

a vertically movable Siphon guided in'said receptaclein a rectilinear direction parallel with its longer leg and having a bottle sealing cap on its longerleg and liquid and gas passages, a valve controlling the liquid passage and adapted to be closed by the downward movement fof the Siphon and to remain closed -when the.v Siphon is elevated until a certain counter pressure is established in the bottle, a valve controlling the gas passage and adapted to 'be opened by the upward.v

movement of 'the siphon, and a vertically movable bottle support arranged below and in line with the longer leg of the siphon and adapted to lift the-Siphon with a bottle and thereby cause the operation of said valves.

12. In a bottle lling machine, the combination of ,a' closedA liquid receptacle, means v for maintaining liquid under pressure at a substantlally constant leveltherein, a vertically movable Siphon guided in said receptacle in a"recltilinear direction parallel" withthe longer leg of the Siphon and having a bottle sealing cap on its longer leg and liquid and gas passages extending through said cap, a valve controlling said liquid passage and adapted to be closed by' the downward movement of the Siphon and to remain closed when the siphon is'lifteduntil a certain counter pressure is established in thebottle, a valve controlling Said gas passage and adapted to be opened by the upward 'movement of the Siphon, a vertically movable bottle support arranged below and in alinement with the longer leg of the Siphon and adapted to lift the siphon with a bottle and thereby cause the opera'- tion of said valve, anda guide movable into and out of positionover a bottle on said support and adapted to center the mouth of the bottle with the longer leg of the Siphon. 13. In a bottle lling machine, the combinatio-n with a stand or support, of a closed liquid receptacle rotatably mounted thereon, means for maintaining liquid under pressure at a'substantially constant level in said resaid caps, valves controlling said liquid pasi sages and adapted to be closed bythe downward movement of the siphons and to reymain closed when the siphons are lifted until a certain counter pressure is established in the bottles, valves controlling said gas passages and adapted to be opened by the upward movement ofthe siphons, and vetically movable and` rotatably mounted bottle supports arranged below and in alinement with the longer legs of the siphons and adapted to lift said siphons withbottles and thereby cause the operation of said valves.' Y

' In witness whereof I hereto aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN HENES.

' Witnesses: 1 CHAs. L. Goss, FRED PALM. 

